Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s6.t6.4

v1.c7.s6.t6.4

In the aspect of esoteric Buddhism, characteristics such as the union of knowledge and emptiness as well as the absolute birth, death and nirvana of human heart shall be proved and enlightened through systematic cultivation; absolute reality of the innate intelligence shall be realised to reach the realm of the unity between the Buddha and self. The cultivation processes are to find general properties of human heart firstly, and seek the way from "clear heart" to "empty heart" secondly, realised the secret of "the union of knowledge and emptiness", thirdly as well as prove and understand the characteristics of original nature including absences of position, colour, shape and substance etc. Sagya sect holds the opinion that heart has two characteristics: firstly, it is twined by a mess; secondly, its nature is the innate intelligence. Therefore, birth and death is for not knowing self heart while nirvana is for knowing self/ heart.